Sgt Tangye's tweet suggested officers laid in wait and were expecting to get a firm grip on the mucky motorist.

However, it appears the tweet was somewhat premature.

Sgt Tangye admitted to The Herald there was no further update as the white van: "must have turned off before it got to us."

Clearly feeling deflated at the loss of the money shot, Sgt Tangye revealed the initial report came from a passing member of the public at Lee Mill who spotted the driver and his porn in a white Transit van.

Another driver, pulled over by Devon and Cornwall Police was found to have sent 10 replies to 10 texts within one hour.

Latest statistics show that mobile phone use is a factor in an average of two deaths on the roads every month, with 123 people losing their lives over the past five years.

National Police Chiefs’ council lead for roads policing, Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, previously said: “Police forces are committed to keeping our roads safe and partnership with Highways England is absolutely crucial for that, as we can see from the thousands of offences detected by the HGV cab.

"Together with targeted local action by police officers, this has become an important element of our intelligence-led operations against dangerous driving.

“Driving whilst distracted is completely unacceptable and police are also making use of the tougher new penalties to stop this dangerous behaviour by ensuring that offenders face the full weight of law.

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“People have to think about the consequences of their actions - a moment’s distraction can change innocent lives. It is never a risk worth taking.”

Plymouth Police have a new weapon against dodgy drivers – a heavyweight undercover lorry that has already been out patrolling the A38.

The unmarked DAF truck might look like an unlikely vehicle for police to use but it gives cops an advantage point to see motorists texting at the wheel, watching movies on their mobile phones or in in this case watching porn.